Portland 5 Things To Do In and Around the City This Weekend

1. Looking for some Saturday afternoon family fun? The Portland Opera's Portland Opera To Go program brings their family friendly production of Hansel and Gretel to the Tigard Public Library for a matinee performance. The adaptation - less than one hour - is by Engelbert Humperdinck and is in English. The show is free and open to the public. Head to http://www.portlandopera.org/c... for more information.

2. Portland Veg Fest comes to the Oregon Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. Pretty much everything you want to know - and a lot of stuff you didn't know you wanted to know, and maybe some stuff you didn't want to know - about a life without meat. Speakers. Chef demonstrations. Fitness workouts. Everything you need to know about plant-based living. Go to http://nwveg.org/vegfest for the complete schedule.

3. Grab a roll of quarters and head to the Convention Center for the Portland Retro Gaming Expo. Actually, while you have to pay to get in, playing the games is free. There's exhibitors and competitions. Arcade games. Pinball. And so much more. http://retrogamingexpo.com is where to go for all the details.

4. It's not yet Halloween but it's clearly in the air. So, why not head to the Doll Asylum in North Portland. The family has dolls all set up in a display for Halloween - all the mood without the scare of a haunted house. Check out www.dollasylum.com for more information.

5. Got plans for Sunday? Get a leg up on Halloween and get a pumpkin - and carve it. McMenamins Edgfield os hosting their annual Poor Farm Pumpkin Patch and Carving Challenge. In addition to picking your pumpkin there will be cider tastings, a screening of Hotel Transylvania, and a artists's Pumplin Carving Contest featuring 13 carvers including staff from Laika Studios. http://www.mcmenamins.com/even... is where you can find out everything you need to know.

Illustration Portland Opera